South Africa’s most emphatic performance of the modern era was reduced to a footnote within minutes of the final whistle after Eben Etzebeth was sent off for making contact with the eye area of Wales flanker Alex Mann.
The incident, captured clearly by broadcast cameras, occurred in the 79th minute as both forward packs became embroiled in a scuffle following a passage of loose play. Etzebeth could be seen driving his thumb towards Mann’s eye — a movement detached from the momentum of the confrontation. Referee Mathieu Raynal issued a straight red card.
What had been an 11-try, 73–0 demolition at the Principality Stadium immediately became secondary. Discussion inside the ground and online turned to the likely length of Etzebeth’s suspension and the damage to a reputation built over more than a decade as one of rugby’s most respected enforcers.
The 33-year-old is South Africa’s most-capped player and a two-time World Cup winner. He now faces a disciplinary hearing that could keep him out of international rugby for months.
World Rugby’s sanctioning framework sets a minimum entry point of 12 weeks for deliberate contact with the eye area. Reckless acts begin at 18 weeks; intentional gouging at 24. The upper range extends to four years.
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, did not attempt to defend the incident. He told the Daily Mail the red card was justified and acknowledged the visuals were damaging. Captain Siya Kolisi offered partial mitigation, suggesting his teammate had not acted deliberately and had already apologised to Mann.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy declined to comment in detail but noted that the footage spoke for itself.
The disciplinary panel’s interpretation of intent — whether the act was accidental, reckless or deliberate — will determine the length of any ban.
